A major toll fraud has come to light at multiple toll plazas across Uttar Pradesh, where overloaded vehicles were charged toll under fake registration numbers. Officials discovered that out of 1,600 overloaded vehicles recorded at one toll plaza in a month, toll receipts for approximately 900 vehicles were issued using bogus or non-existent vehicle numbers. Investigations indicate that collusion between toll staff and drivers’ use of manual cash payments played a central role in the scam.
Itaunja Plaza Shocker: 900 Fake Vehicle Numbers
The irregularities first surfaced at the Itaunja toll plaza, where officials were shocked to find several vehicle numbers that did not exist. In many cases, neither the chassis numbers nor any official registration details could be verified online, raising concerns about systemic loopholes in toll collection.
This is not an isolated incident. Similar discrepancies were reported at toll plazas across Lucknow, highlighting a widespread problem. Overloaded vehicles are meant to face strict penalties following directives issued by the Chief Minister’s office, but the detection of fake numbers suggests that enforcement mechanisms have serious gaps.
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NHAI Lists Expose Massive Toll Fraud Scale
Authorities including the Transport Department, HHAI, and traffic enforcement divisions were asked to closely monitor and report toll collections. Subsequently, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) provided detailed lists of overloaded vehicles to the state transport department for verification.
Officials reviewing the January vehicle lists at Itaunja toll plaza were stunned by the scale of the discrepancies. Out of 1,600 overloaded vehicles, around 900 were found to have fraudulent vehicle numbers. Similarly, in February, an additional 200 vehicles from NHAI-provided lists were identified as having bogus numbers.
Fake MA, MB Numbers and Cash Collusion
The irregularities came to light during routine checks by the ARTO (Enforcement) team on Kanpur Road at Darogakheda. One inspection involved an overloaded truck, UP 32 ZN 8925, traveling from Kanpur to Lucknow. The driver, Manish from Laharpur (Sitapur), provided a toll receipt dated April 3 with number 1553972. However, the receipt listed the vehicle as MA 34 S 9455, a number that had no record in the state’s vehicle database. In fact, the MA code does not correspond to any state at all. The vehicle was fined ₹1,08,600 for overloading, and a related FIR was registered in Sarojininagar.
Transport officials suspect collusion among toll plaza staff. While FASTag is meant to automate toll collection, drivers paying manually in cash provide false vehicle numbers, which staff record on receipts. This practice allows inflated charges to be collected and facilitates revenue diversion. Cash payments reportedly required nearly double the standard toll amount, creating an incentive for both staff and drivers to manipulate the system.
Random Bogus Numbers Hide Overloading Penalties
The fraudulent numbers are varied and random, including codes like MA24PA2736, MAT54JE3087, MB1AUGCC4BRGL006, CLMM101469, 1C63588694, MALA6994B5H9874, 1SNM821418, LAMM060405, ONCN221310, OAWSX55238, CDPC429482, 57JE1JE28931, and 21H1C07579. Officials noted that many of these numbers do not correspond to any state or regional registration, leaving them impossible to track.
NHAI Project Director Nakul Prakash Verma clarified that toll collection using FASTag is functioning correctly; receipts generated through FASTag reflect accurate vehicle details. The discrepancies arise due to manual cash transactions, which are under the Transport Department’s jurisdiction.
Enforcement officers warn that vehicles passing toll plazas under fake numbers pose serious risks. In case of accidents or legal issues, responsibility cannot be traced to the proper vehicle owner, exposing gaps in accountability and enforcement.
The revelation has prompted calls for stricter monitoring, automated payment enforcement, and periodic audits of toll collections across UP. Authorities have emphasized that both staff and drivers involved in such frauds will face strict action.
